Index devices



United States Patent inventors Joseph D. Lear Snyder;

Eric M. Holt, East Aurora, N.Y. 719,441

Apr. 8, 1968 Dec. 15, 1970 Posting Equipment Corporation Buffalo, N.Y.

Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee INDEX DEVICES 2 Claims, 10 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl. 220/22.2 Int. Cl B421 17/14; 865d 25/06 Field ol'Search 220/221, 22.2, 22.3, 22.4, 22.5, 22.6

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,948,451 2/1934 Wolters 220/223 2,116,373 5/1938 Williamson. 220/223 2,664,898 1/1954 Lear 220/223 Primary Examiner-George E. Lowrance Attorney-Joseph D. Lear ABSTRACT: A posting tray of the rectilinear tub-type having front and back compressors for receiving rectangular-filing cards therebetween in a compressed angular position relative to the vertical. The back compressor is of a fixed angularity and it is adjustable linearly to vary the filing space between it and the front compressor. The front compressor is only angularity movable from a latched compressing position parallel to the back compressor to a forward or open angular position affording a cleavage angle for the filing cards.

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The invention, related to posting of filing trays for the storage of rectangular-filing cards.

The invention is directed to a compressor mechanism for permitting manual operation of a pivoted front compressor plate from a latched angular-compressing position to a released open position. I v

The invention will be found to reside in a novel-latching mechanism where the front plate may be manually moved with mechanical advantage to a fixed position, where the sheet body is resiliently compressed between the front and back compressor plates.

The structure of the tray in two embodiments is more fully described in the accompanying specifications and drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a posting tray of the first embodiment of the invention. v

FIG. 2 is a front view thereof.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are sections in lines 3-3 and 4-4 respectively of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged section on the lines 5-5 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary section on the line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a side elevation of the posting tray of the second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a front elevation of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged section on the line 9-9 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary section on the line 10-10 ofFIG. 7.

In the drawings (FIGS. 1-4, first embodiment) the posting tray 10 is shown as a sheet metal structure having sides 11, front 12, back 13 and a base 14. The'base is a fabricated structure including spaced flat plates 15, separated by an underlying channel 16 having spaced rachet teeth 17 formed centrally therein. The parts are suitably welded together to form a rectilinear structure. I

A back compressor 20 includes a flanged base 16 which'is slidably contained within the channel 16, and which is formed .with a depending tooth 19 which is adapted to engage against one of the rachet teeth 17. T

A strut is welded to the base 18 and it projects upwardly at a rearward angle of approximately and serves as a support for a rectangular compressor plate 22 which is welded thereto. The back compressor and the described tray structure will be recognized as an organization old in the art where the compressor may be moved in increments along the rachet teeth 17 to compress or decompress a card mass (M-FIG. 1) between it and a front compressor 30 which will now be described.

The front compressor 30 includes a rectangular compressor plate 24 having a tab portion 25 depending into the channel 16 and terminating in semicylindrical curl 26. A hinge pin 27 extends laterally thru suitable apertures in the channel 16 and thru the curl 26 and it is supplied with a should rivet terminal 28 (FIG. 3) to prevent displacement. This hinge or pivot structure is spaced sufficiently from the front 12 to permit the plate 24 to be swung to opposite angular angles. The central portions of the plate 24 is struck out to form a latch portion 29 having a latch terminal 31. A guide member 32 is bent to follow the latch portion 29 in spaced relation and its terminals 29a and 2% are welded to the plate body. A strut 33 is preferably a U-shaped wire formation having outwardly bent terminals 34 entering apertures 35 in channel 16, such apertures being located immediately adjacent the tray front 12. (FIG. 4 and 5) The closed end of the strut. 33 is horizontal to provide a latch bar 36 and the wire is then bent to form a S- shaped sections 37 as viewed in side elevation,'such curvature being dictated by the necessity of clearing the tray front 12 and the plated body as will be seen in FIG. 5.

The latch bar 36 of the strut 33 is loosely located in the space between the latch portion and the overlying guide member 32 to complete the assembly. In the open position of the front compressor 30, (dot and dash lines FIG. 5) the forwardly pivoted strut 33. has carried the plate 24 with it to its extreme forward position adjacent the front 12, wherein the 25 41 and it differs from the plate 22 in that it is not reinforced latch bar 35 has slid upward upon the latch portion 29. During the compressing movement the compressor is pushed rearward until resistance of the paper mass M is encountered. Further angular movement results in the entry of the bar 36 beneath the latch terminal 31 to lock the card mass in position (FIG. 1) under considerable compression because of the camlike action of the bar 36 on the inclined surface of the latch 29. The degree of compression is limited by the curved shape of the wire strut 33 which deflects in a spring action and in effect acts as a spring compression element. The front compressor is unlocked by the manual operations of pressing the guide member 32 with the thumb and simultaneously lifting the wire strut 33 with the fingers of the same hand, whereupon the latch bar 36 is disengaged and the compressor is free to be swung to open position aided by an initial spring urge. Structurally it will be observed the compressing stresses are wholly absorbed in the base 14 with the front l2 and'back 13 serving primarily as carrying elements.

In the second embodiment of the invention (FIGS. 7 to 10) a similar posting tray 20 is provided with differences in detail in the compressor structures. The back compressor 40 is similarly provided with a flanged base 41 including a tooth 42 for engaging with the tray racket teeth 17. The compressor plate 43 is formed with a flange 44 which is welded to the base and thus it is free to spring rearwardly.

A front compressor 44 includes a front compressor plate 45 which is formed with a depending tab 46 containing a horizontal slot 48. A cylindrical latch stud 50 is riveted to the plate 45 on its center line and it is formed with a shank 51 contacting the plate 45, a shouldered portion 52 of reduced diameter, and a head 53 of a larger diameter than the shank 51. An angular sheet metal strut 55 is formed with a central vertical slot 56 merging at its upper end in an enlarged opening 57. The lower end of the strut 55 contains a horizontal slot 58. Both of these members are mounted for pivotal motion by a hinge member 60, welded to the channel bottom and having hookshaped ends 59 and 61 entering the slots 48 and 58 of plate 45 and strut 55 respectively.

In this assembly it will be observed that the stud head 53 retains the plate and strut against disassembly, while the shouldered portion 52 slidably fits in the slot 56. The shank 51 being of larger diameter cannot enter the slot 56 but will enter the opening 57.

Referring to the opening position of the front compressor 44 it will be seen in the dot and dash illustration in FIG. 9, that the shouldered stud portion 52 is guidably retained in the slot 56 with the strut 55 spaced from the plate 45. When the strut 55 is now moved by a manual thrust in a clockwise or rearward direction, the stud shank 51 is finally engaged in the opening 57. This is accompanied by the disengagement of the shouldered portion from the slot 56 and the simultaneous dropping movement of the strut 45 against the plate 55 to the effect that the plate 55 is locked in its rearward angular position (full lines in FIG. 9) by the latching action caused by the engagement of the large shank 51 against the walls of the upper terminal of the slot 56.

In disengaging the front compressor from its locked position, a relative motion operation similar to that of the first embodiment is necessary,-wherein the rear of the upper end of the strut 45 is engaged by the fingers while the thumb depresses the head of the stud 50. Thus separates the plate 45 from the strut 55. Thus the shank 51 is disengaged, and the shouldered portion 52 of the stud 50 again slidably enters the slot 56. As in the first embodiment, this action is accelerated by a spring action, in this case by the back compressor 40, which has previously yielded slightly under the compressive load.

We claim:

1. In an index device including a posting tray having a rectangular bottom having front back and side margins, a back compressor having a carriage, medial guide means on said bottom for receiving said carriage for guided movement, a compressor plate carried by said carriage and disposed parallel to the ends of said bottom and at an acute rearward angle relative to the vertical, a front compressor including a front compressor plate, a pivotal connection between said front compressor plate and said bottom to permit swinging action of said front compressor plate on an axis parallel to and spaced from the front margin of said bottom, a strut, a pivotal connection between said strut and said bottom to permit swinging action 'of said strut on an axis parallel to and immediately adjacent to the front margin of said bottom, a slidable connection adjacent the top ends of said strut and said front compressor plate to permit united swinging action of said strut and front compressor plate from a locked angular closed position of said front compressor plate parallel to said back compressor plate to a forward acute open angular position. said slidable connection comprising a cylindrical stud carried by said front compressor plate and having a shank portion, a shouldered portion of reduced diameter, and a head of increased diameter, said strut being formed of sheet metal having vertical slot for slidably receivingthe shouldered portion of said stud, the upper end of said slot being enlarged to receive the shank portion of said stud.

2. The invention as set forth in claim 1, wherein said back compressor plate is flexible to permit said latch means to be operated under pressure when a card mass is compressed between the front and back compressors. 

